Charge-coupled device input with complementary signal-dependent charge packets

Claim 1

A charge-coupled device comprising a charge transport channel defined at the surface of a semiconductor body and an input stage for supplying signal-dependent charge packets comprising an input diode for supplying charge carriers, a first electrode arranged above the charge transport channel for forming a charge packet having a fixed signal-independent size, and second, third and fourth electrodes located above the charge transport channel, the second, third and fourth electrodes being connected to means for applying voltages in such a manner that a potential well extending below these electrodes can be induced, to which the charge packet having a fixed size can be transferred, these means comprising a voltage source by means of which a signal-dependent voltage difference can be applied between the second and the fourth electrode, as a result of which signal-dependent quantities of charge are stored below the second and the fourth electrode, from which complementary charge packets can be formed by applying such a voltage to the third electrode that below this electrode a potential barrier is formed, which insulates the charge packets below the second and the fourth electrode from each other, characterized in that said electrodes are disposed one to four in a consecutive arrangement in such a manner that the second electrode is located between the first and third electrodes, and in that means are provided for transferring the charge packet formed below the second electrode back to the region below the first electrode before a charge packet having a fixed size is formed again below this electrode.